Apparatus and method for automatically dispersing aggregate material

Abstract

A device and method for automatically dispersing aggregate material, such as animal feed, is disclosed. The device includes a hopper having a spout at a bottom side thereof. A distributor is positioned underneath the spout so that feed or other material within the hopper flows out of the spout and into the distributor. the distributor is dimensioned and positioned relative to the spout so that the feed cones-up and prevents further feed from flowing out of the hopper. The distributor is further configured to have upright walls located around its periphery. The upright walls prevent unintended unloading of the distributor by wind or bumping. The distributor is attached to a shaft of an electrical motor which activates during a rotational cycle in accordance with a schedule established by a control unit. When the motor activates, the distributor rotates, and feed is broadcast from the distributor through openings within the upright walls. As feed is broadcast, additional feed flows from the hopper onto the distributor. The control unit includes the motor, a battery, and low power semiconductor counting circuits for establishing the frequency and duration of rotational cycles. In addition, the control unit includes an indicator, which signals the operational status of the control unit, and a battery extender circuit, which permits the counting circuits to successfully operate even when the battery is running down.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for automatically dispersing aggregate material on a predetermined schedule and for retarding dispersal of said aggregate material other than on said predetermined schedule, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for holding said aggregate material, said hopper having an opening in a lower section thereof;   a distributor residing generally below said hopper opening, said distributor having a floor for receiving said aggregate material from said hopper and said distributor having upright walls peripherally disposed relative to said floor, said upright walls having an unobstructed opening therein; and   means, coupled to said distributor, for rotating said distributor in accordance with said schedule, said rotation causing said distributor to disperse said aggregate material through said opening in said upright walls.   
     
     
       2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said distributor floor exhibits a first area and said hopper opening exhibits a second area; and   said first area is greater than said second area.   
     
     
       3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said hopper opening exhibits a diameter in excess of approximately 1.25 inches. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hopper has a downward extending spout, and said hopper opening is located at a bottom end of said spout. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said upright walls of said distributor extend above said bottom end of said spout. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein said upright walls of said distributor extend at least 1/8 of an inch above said bottom end of said spout. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said opening in said upright walls is positioned proximate said floor. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein a plurality of openings are distributed around said upright walls. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising a shield positioned on said upright walls to block dispersal of said aggregate material through one of said plurality of openings so that the quantity of said aggregate material dispersed by said distributor is less than the quantity of said aggregate material dispersable by said distributor without said shield. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said hopper opening is surrounded by a hopper opening wall;   said distributor has a hub about which said rotating means causes said distributor to rotate; and   said distributor is positioned so that said hub is centrally located underneath said hopper opening wall.   
     
     
       11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein said opening in said upright walls is positioned so that a lower portion of said opening resides a distance H below said hopper opening and a distance D away from a closest point on said hopper opening wall, said distances H and D being substantially perpendicular to each other and extending so that the ratio of H/D is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said distributor is positioned relative to said hopper so that said distance H is in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches. 
     
     
       13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises: a motor coupled to said distributor to selectively cause said distributor to rotate;   timing means, coupled to said motor, for determining a dispersal duration, during which said motor causes said distributor to rotate, and for determining a standby duration, during which said motor refrains from causing said distributor to rotate; and   means, coupled to said timing means, for indicating operational status of said timing means during said standby duration.   
     
     
       14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rotating means comprises: a battery for supplying electrical energy;   a motor coupled to said battery;   a timing circuit coupled to said motor, said timing circuit having an electrical power requirement, and said timing circuit operating to determine a dispersal duration, during which said motor causes said distributor to rotate, and to determine a standby duration, during which said motor refrains from causing said distributor to rotate; and   means, coupled to said battery and to said timing circuit, for storing a sufficient quantity of electrical energy to meet said electrical power requirement of said timing circuit throughout said dispersal duration.   
     
     
       15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein said rotating means additionally comprises isolation means, coupled between said battery and said energy storage means, said isolation means being for preventing said energy storage means from supplying electrical energy to said motor during said dispersal duration. 
     
     
       16. A method of automatically dispersing aggregate material on a predetermined schedule while substantially preventing dispersal of said aggregate material other than on said predetermined schedule, said method comprising the steps of: feeding said aggregate material onto a generally horizontal distributor floor from a spout;   confining said aggregate material within upright walls having an unobstructed opening therein and being peripherally disposed on said distributor relative to said floor; and   rotating said distributor in accordance with said predetermined schedule, said rotation applying a centrifugal force upon said aggregate material to cause said aggregate material to exit said distributor through said opening in said upright walls.   
     
     
       17. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said distributor floor is disposed below a bottom end of said spout, and said method additionally comprises the step of extending said upright walls above said bottom end of said spout. 
     
     
       18. A method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said upright walls have a plurality of openings therein, and said method additionally comprises the step of shielding one of said openings to block dispersal of said aggregate material through said one of said plurality of openings so that the quantity of said aggregate material dispersed by said distributor is reduced from the quantity of said aggregate material dispensable by said distributor without said shielding. 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for automatically dispersing aggregate material on a predetermined schedule and for retarding dispersal of said aggregate material other than on said predetermined schedule, said apparatus comprising: a hopper for holding said aggregate material, said hopper having a spout extending downward therefrom and terminating at a bottom end;   a distributor having a floor and upwardly extending walls peripherally located relative to said floor, said walls having a plurality of openings therein positioned proximate said floor, and said distributor being positioned so that said floor is centrally located beneath said bottom end of said spout and said walls extend above said bottom end of said spout;   a motor positioned beneath said distributor and coupled to a central section of said distributor floor;   a battery for supplying electrical energy to said motor, said battery being coupled to said motor;   a timing circuit coupled to said motor, said timing circuit having an electrical power requirement, and said timing circuit operating to determine a dispersal duration during which said motor causes said distributor to rotate and during which said aggregate material is dispersed through said plurality of openings in said distributor walls; and   means, coupled to said battery and to said timing circuit, for storing a sufficient quantity of electrical energy to supply said electrical power requirement of said timing circuit throughout said dispersal duration.   
     
     
       20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein: said openings in said upright walls are positioned so that, on average, a lower portion of said openings reside a vertical distance in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches below said bottom end of said spout; and said openings are further positioned so that, on average, said lower portion of said openings reside a horizontal distance in the range of 0.5 to 2.0 inches away from a closest portion of said spout.